“Confront the elephant in the room. Break the silence so we can authentically work for justice.”

These words were spoken by wise Fordham University students Scarly Rodriguez and Sarah Allison during the Ignatian Family Teach-In in the District of Columbia this past weekend.

Through Creighton’s Center for Service and Justice, students were given the opportunity to open their eyes to the injustices facing our world today and learn how to effectively advocate for these issues.

Immigration, sustainability and United States policy towards Central America were the key justice issues discussed and advocated for throughout the conference. At the convention, Creighton students shared their own experiences in Omaha, while also learning from the experiences of others regarding these touchy political issues.

Students of the Backpack Journalism program shared their viewpoint on the issue of environmental sustainability through the presentation of their documentary filmed in Bethel, Ala.

Creighton students also learned from others while attending a wide range of breakout sessions featuring topics such as the war in Syria, cyber-bullying or current U.S. foreign policy bills.

After becoming educated on various injustices in the world, students then advocated for these causes in meetings with senators, representatives or their staff members.

At Creighton, students are educated to be morally aware human beings guided by the Jesuit values. Students are also encouraged to discover the deep passions that will guide them to their successful futures.

The Ignatian Family Teach-In allows for students to combine their Jesuit-driven values with their passions in an effort to make the world a more peaceful place.

Traveling to the District via Creighton is a one-of-a-kind experience in which students can gain a broader perspective of what is occurring all around the world.

Students this weekend broke the silence of indifference and talked about the injustices present in today’s societies. With the collaborative efforts of the educated minds of today, the Ignatian Family Teach-In strives to open the most difficult issues to dialogue so that conversations may take place, compromises may be formed and justice may be achieved.